GRANITE CITY, Ill. (KSDK) - Granite City Police were forced to shoot and kill a pit bull terrier Wednesday afternoon after the dog attacked a man who was walking his dog on Nameoki Road near Illinois Route 162.

Police say around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday they received a call of a dog mauling a smaller dog to death and attacking its owner. A witness who was driving by stopped to assist the man who was being attacked.

The 38-year-old victim suffered severe bites to his hands and lower arms in the attack. When the witness tried to help, the dog turned toward the second man who struck the attacking dog with a brick and a broken piece of asphalt to no avail.

Police and paramedics arrived on scene and within seconds the dog turned towards one of the EMT's who fled for cover in the ambulance.

Two Granite City Police officers tried to contain the attacking dog after witnessing the dogs resistance even after being struck with the brick.

When the pit bull lunged towards the officers one shot was fired and the dog retreated for a moment, only to take a second chance at the officers who were forced to shoot a second time, fatally injuring the animal.

The 21-year-old owner of the attacking dog was cited for keeping an at-large animal.